16 U.S. Code § 3102 - Definitions

As used in this Act (except that in titles IX and XIV the following terms shall have the same meaning as they have in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.], and the Alaska Statehood Act)—

(1)The term “land” means lands, waters, and interests therein.

(2)The term “Federal land” means lands the title to which is in the United States after December 2, 1980.

(3)The term “public lands” means land situated in Alaska which, after December 2, 1980, are Federal lands, except—

(A)land selections of the State of Alaska which have been tentatively approved or validly selected under the Alaska Statehood Act and lands which have been confirmed to, validly selected by, or granted to the Territory of Alaska or the State under any other provision of Federal law;

(B)land selections of a Native Corporation made under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.] which have not been conveyed to a Native Corporation, unless any such selection is determined to be invalid or is relinquished; and

(4)The term “conservation system unit” means any unit in Alaska of the National Park System, National Wildlife Refuge System, National Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems, National Trails System, National Wilderness Preservation System, or a National Forest Monument including existing units, units established, designated, or expanded by or under the provisions of this Act, additions to such units, and any such unit established, designated, or expanded hereafter.

(5)The term “Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act” means “An Act to provide for the settlement of certain land claims of Alaska Natives, and for other purposes”, approved December 18, 1971 (85 Stat. 688), as amended [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.].

(6)The term “Native Corporation” means any Regional Corporation, any Village Corporation, any Urban Corporation, and any Native Group.

(7)The term “Regional Corporation” has the same meaning as such term has under section 3(g) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1602(g)].

(8)The term “Village Corporation” has the same meaning as such term has under section 3(j) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1602(j)].

(10)The term “Native Group” has the same meaning as such term has under sections 3(d) and 14(h)(2) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1602(d) and 1613(h)(2)].

(11)The term “Native land” means land owned by a Native Corporation or any Native Group and includes land which, as of December 2, 1980, had been selected under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.] by a Native Corporation or Native Group and had not been conveyed by the Secretary (except to the extent such selection is determined to be invalid or has been relinquished) and land referred to in section 19(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1618(b)].

(12)The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior, except that when such term is used with respect to any unit of the National Forest System, such term means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(13)The terms “wilderness” and “National Wilderness Preservation System” have the same meaning as when used in the Wilderness Act (78 Stat. 890) [16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.].

(14)The term “Alaska Statehood Act” means the Act entitled “An Act to provide for the admission of the State of Alaska into the Union”, approved July 7, 1958 (72 Stat. 339), as amended.

(15)The term “State” means the state of Alaska.

(16)The term “Alaska Native” or “Native” has the same meaning as the term “Native” has in section 3(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1602(b)].

(17)The term “fish and wildlife” means any member of the animal kingdom, including without limitation any mammal, fish, bird (including any migratory, nonmigratory or endangered bird for which protection is also afforded by treaty or other international agreement), amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod or other invertebrate, and includes any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof, or the dead body or part thereof.

(18)The term “take” or “taking” as used with respect to fish or wildlife, means to pursue, hunt, shoot, trap, net capture, collect, kill, harm, or attempt to engage in any such conduct.

This Act, referred to in provision preceding par. (1) and in par. (4), is Pub. L. 96–487, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2371, as amended, known as the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Title IX of this Act enacted sections
1631 to
1638 of Title
43, Public Lands, amended sections
1614 and
1620 of Title
43, and amended provisions set out as notes under section
1611 of Title
43 and preceding section
21 of Title
48, Territories and Insular Possessions. Title XIV of this Act enacted sections
1639 to
1641 of Title
43, amended sections
1602,
1606,
1607,
1611,
1613,
1620, and
1621 of Title
43, enacted provisions set out as notes under sections
1605,
1613, and
1618 of Title
43, and amended provisions set out as notes under sections
1611 and
1613 of Title
43. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section
3101 of this title and Tables.

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in provision preceding par. (1) and in pars. (3)(B), (C)(5), and (11), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section
1601 of Title
43 and Tables.

The Alaska Statehood Act, referred to in provision preceding par. (1) and in pars. (3)(A) and (14), is Pub. L. 85–508, July 7, 1958, 72 Stat. 339, as amended, which is set out as a note preceding section
21 of Title
48, Territories and Insular Possessions. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

The Wilderness Act, referred to in par. (13), is Pub. L. 88–577, Sept. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 890, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 23 (§ 1131 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section
1131 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1997—Par. (2). Pub. L. 105–83, § 316(b)(2), which directed the amendment of par. (2) generally, to read as follows: “The term ‘Federal land’ means lands the title to which is in the United States after December 2, 1980. ‘Federal land’ does not include lands the title to which is in the State, an Alaska Native corporation, or other private ownership.”, was repealed by Pub. L. 105–83, § 316(d). See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–83, title III, § 316(d),Nov. 14, 1997, 111 Stat. 1595, provided that: “Unless and until laws are adopted in the State of Alaska which provide for the definition, preference, and participation specified in sections
803,
804, and
805 [sections
3113 to
3115 of this title] of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.), the amendments made by subsection (b) of this section [amending this section and sections
3111,
3113 to
3115,
3117,
3124, and
3125 of this title] shall be effective only for the purposes of determining whether the State’s laws provide for such definition, preference, and participation. The Secretary shall certify before December 1, 1998 if such laws have been adopted in the State of Alaska. Subsection (b) shall be repealed on such date if such laws have not been adopted.” [The State of Alaska did not adopt laws specified above by Dec. 1, 1998.]

Savings Clause

Pub. L. 105–83, title III, § 316(c),Nov. 14, 1997, 111 Stat. 1595, provided that: “No provision of this section [amending this section and sections
3111,
3113 to
3115,
3117,
3124, and
3125 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section], amendment made by this section, or exercise of authority pursuant to this section may be construed to validate, invalidate, or in any way affect—

“(1) any assertion that an Alaska Native organization (including a federally recognized tribe, traditional Alaska Native council, or Alaska Native council organized pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 461 et seq.), as amended) has or does not have governmental authority over lands (including management of, or regulation of the taking of, fish and wildlife) or persons within the boundaries of the State of Alaska;

“(2) any assertion that Indian country, as defined in section
1151 of title
18, United States Code, exists or does not exist within the boundaries of the State of Alaska;

“(3) any assertion that the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) is or is not Indian law; or

“(4) the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under section 1314(c) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3202(c)).”

“(1) The Secretary of the Interior shall certify before October 1, 1999, if a bill or resolution has been passed by the Alaska State Legislature to amend the Constitution of the State of Alaska that, if approved by the electorate, would enable the implementation of state laws of general applicability consistent with, and which provide for the definition, preference, and participation specified in sections 803, 804, and 805 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act [16 U.S.C. 3113, 3114, 3115].

“(2) Subsection (a) shall be repealed on October 1, 1999, unless prior to that date the Secretary of the Interior makes such a certification described in paragraph (1). [A certification was not made prior to Oct. 1, 1999.]

“(c) Technical Amendments to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.—[Amended section
3115 of this title.]

“(d) Effect on Tidal and Submerged Land.—Nothing in this section invalidates, validates, or in any other way affects any claim of the State of Alaska to title to any tidal or submerged land in Alaska.”

Pub. L. 105–83, title III, § 316(a),Nov. 14, 1997, 111 Stat. 1592, provided that: “None of the funds made available to the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture by this or any other Act hereafter enacted may be used prior to December 1, 1998 to issue or implement final regulations, rules, or policies pursuant to title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act [16 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.] to assert jurisdiction, management, or control over the navigable waters transferred to the State of Alaska pursuant to the Submerged Lands Act of 1953 [43 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.] or the Alaska Statehood Act of 1959 [Pub. L. 85–508, set out as a note preceding section
21 of Title
48, Territories and Insular Possessions].”